Chapter 69 | Aiden’s Demand – 2
[3rd Person POV]
BAM!
Already kneeling, Solkar’s face hit the ground, coloring the floor red with the patch of blood he vomited. Even taking a breath felt more laborious suddenly.
"I will ask only once: did you know about this, Solkar?" Malachi demanded.
"N-No, Lord Malachi, I had no idea about this. Please believe me," Solkar pleaded.
"Tsk...I can’t believe we were fooled like this. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. You have the council’s utmost gratitude for saving our face," Malachi addressed Aiden, earlier fury melting into respect.
"It was the most normal decision for me," Aiden responded in kind.
"You proved yourself right again; your rewards will only increase further. First, share your demand as the winner of this tournament. We will move forward from there," Malachi suggested.
"As you wish, Chancellor. My only wish is to establish my first very own city on this Demon land. I hope to receive the support of the council on this," Aiden shared.
No one spoke for a few seconds; it was pure silence, but not the depressing kind but more of the contemplating kind.
While Solkar was still fuming from inside, he scoffed at Aiden’s request.
’I had to do so much more than simply winning a tournament to become lord on this council. Here you are trying to reach my level.’ His thoughts ran wild as he lay on the ground.
Although he was in pain, he was waiting, almost delighted at the look on his face when he gets rejected.
However, after a few seconds, Malachi broke the silence. "Why?"
"If you could elaborate on your question, Chancellor. Why did I ask for that particular wish, or why did I want to establish my own city?" Aiden asked.
"Both," Malachi replied.
"First, I want to establish my own city because that’s been my dream since I was a child. And the reason for asking for that particular wish is simply because I saw this as the fastest way to achieve my dream," Aiden explained his reasoning.
"Hmm...are you sure you want to take the hard way? If you accept proposals from one of the lords, you can have one or maybe more cities to rule under you."
"You won’t have to work on creating an entire framework for your city; you can simply just rule the existing one," Malachi persuaded.
"Forgive me, Chancellor, but I want the experience. It may be fruitful in the future," Aiden insisted.
"Haha...ambitious and bold, you certainly fit the description of a lord. You should go and rest; I will discuss with the remainder of the council and give you an answer shortly," Malachi stated.
"As you wish, Chancellor. I thank you and the lords of the council for hearing my wish," Aiden accepted as he turned to leave, followed by Damien.
"Someone take out this trash," Malachi ordered, pointing towards Marion.
The pressure on Solkar had lifted a bit as Aiden and Damien left and a demon guard dragged Marion out.
He used this opportunity to open his mouth. "We are seriously not talking about making him 10th Lord of the Kronesthion, are we?" He fumed.
"We...are talking; you are not allowed to speak. The Council has no cards left to play precisely because of your foolishness and interference." Malachi reprimanded.
"I need to hear everybody’s thoughts on this before I finalize my decision," he said.
"I am in agreement; I have no objection. My only request is that his territory should be beside mine," Verrisa rushed to support and was the first one to agree.
"I expected this. I have no complaints regarding this unless he was given land from my territory," Irelia agreed too.
"I request that a major chunk of the new territory be taken from the Bastion of Solkar," she suggested.
Solkar, with his knees on the ground, could only grit his teeth and clench his fists in frustration.
At present his only choice was to listen and accept as cities under his rule were being given away, and there was nothing he could do about it.
"Is it okay to do that, Chancellor? We never had a human as a ruler on our land. Won’t we become a laughingstock to other continents?" Silen objected.
"I second that. I know we have to complete his wish per rules, but can’t we just make an excuse and tell him that his wish is harmful to Kronesthion or something?" Mara Ironmaw raised the objection and suggested.
"No, we can’t because I am pretty sure he knows the rules of the Demon continent deeply."
"He had already demonstrated that by making an invigilator owe a favor to him and also threatening Solkar here openly about that." Malachi explained.
"That’s it, we could punish him because he threatened a lord. This way we won’t even have to complete his ridiculous demand," Solkar suddenly beamed like he had seen the light in his dark bloody life.
However, instead of saying anything, Malachi just applied a sliver of his aura, pinning him to the ground again.
Solkar could only groan in pain against the aura of a Celestial at the Zenith sub-stage.
"As I was saying, even besides the rules, he has us by the throat because of this fool here. So we don’t have much leeway here; I just want to know your thoughts as part of the council," Malachi shared.
"I didn’t expect anything less from my nephew," Verrisa boasted.
"Well, if you put it like that, Chancellor, I have to agree too," Silen supported.
"Well, I for one propose to give him a city under my rule as a gift on becoming the 10th Lord. As my and Verrisa’s territories are next to each other, I think Verrisa would agree too." Fenris Greyclaw even went ahead as to give away one of his cities.
"Would you like to share your reason for this enthusiasm, Fenris?" Lysandra Velune, a succubus ruler of Veluna City, asked.
"It’s simple, isn’t it? That fella is interesting, besides being powerful. He had supposedly awakened a weak ability and heart, but here he is winning a continent-wide tournament in the next month of awakening." Fenris explained.
"Even at the age of sixteen, he had the presence of mind to use everything to his advantage," He continued.
"He even put the council under pressure, even if Solkar had made blunders. Do you think everyone can use it to put us under such a situation, that too without being overt about it?" he added.
"I have an inkling that he would not be limited to this continent. That’s my reasoning; I could share few more I noticed if you wish," he emphasized further.
"Now...now, I am confused. Is he your nephew or Verrisa’s?" Lysandra commented.
"I agree to his position as lord too; I was sold by just how handsome he is even after being human," she added.
"I have no objection unless his rule doesn’t encroach on my territory," Vor’Kul accepted.
"My position is the same," Suranya Ragnar, a three-horned demon, declared.
"I also have no objection," ×3. Krav’Nos, Varek Ironsang, and Dexerion Shade—all three lords also supported the decision.
"Okay, now that I have confirmation from all 9 lords..." As Malachi was speaking.
’I never agreed to this...leave my territory alone,’ Solkar screamed in his head as Chancellor had sealed his mouth for the moment.
"I announce that Aiden Origin is designated as 10th Lord of..." Before Malachi could finish, a frantic knock disturbed the atmosphere.
"Who is this insolent?" Malachi snapped.
"Forgive me, Chancellor, but I have very urgent news to share," a voice came from outside.
"Enter," Malachi spoke. "It better be worth it."
"The Demon continent is under attack," the demon guard blurted just as he entered.
"What!" × 9. Everyone stood up, except Solkar.